OKC Thunder: San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich coaxes the 'nasty' out of his players

SAN ANTONIO — For the first three quarters Sunday night, San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich didn't like what he saw in a team that hadn't lost since April 11.

San ANotnio coach Gregg Popovich reacts during Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA playoffs at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas, Sunday, May 27, 2012. Oklahoma City lost 101-98. Photo by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman

"I thought we were playing for most of the first half, and even at the beginning of the third quarter, a bit unconfidently, kind of on our heels, a little bit unsure of ourselves, on the dribble too much …," Popovich said of trailing 71-62 going into the fourth quarter of Game 1 in the Western Conference Finals against the Thunder.

So during a television timeout, Popovich implored his team to become more aggressive.

"I want some nasty," Popovich shouted.

On cue, the Spurs got nasty and things quickly turned ugly for OKC as San Antonio erupted for 39 points in the final period to post a 101-98 victory before a sellout crowd of 18,581 at the AT&T Center.

The Spurs have now won 19 straight overall, 30 of their last 32 and nine straight in the playoffs.

Pop's motivational ploy paid off as the Spurs shot 12 for 16 (.750) from the field and 13 for 18 (.722) from the free-throw line in the fourth quarter.

"He just wanted to make sure we played with a lot more energy," Spurs point guard Tony Parker, who had seven points, four rebounds and three assists in the period. "When he says that, he just wants to make sure we matched the passion and the energy that Oklahoma was playing with. They were playing with a lot more energy than us in the third quarter."

The Thunder cooperated by getting outscored 20-5 at the outset of the final period, shooting 2 for 8 from the field while San Antonio was in the process of converted 10 of its first 12 shots. "We got in a funk where we were not moving the ball and getting any good shots," reserve forward Nick Collison said.